Trends and characteristics of occupational suicide and homicide in farmers and agriculture workers, 1992-2010

This study looked at 19 years of Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatality data for the purpose of describing occupational homicide and suicide for farmers and agriculture workers. The study found homicide rates for farmers and agriculture workers were lower than rates for total occupations for 14 years, while suicide rates for farmers and agriculture workers were consistently higher than total occupations. Significant regional variations in homicide and suicide patterns were identified. Finally, this study confirmed prior research in that males were most commonly victims of both occupational homicide and suicide when compared to females, while both male and female farmers and agriculture workers were most likely victims of homicide by firearms.